Neutronics & Fluid Dynamics Team Leader

Tokamak Energy; Abingdon; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fusion energy company in the UK seeks a talented team leader in neutronics and fluid dynamics. The role includes managing a world-class team, driving R&D efforts, ensuring safety compliance, and maintaining project deliverables. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in computational methods and demonstrable leadership experience. The position supports a hybrid working model that emphasizes onsite collaboration.

Benefits

25 days holiday

Company pension scheme

Eligible for company share option scheme

Discretionary company bonus

Financial benefits including critical illness cover

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience with neutronics models and computational fluid dynamics.
• Proven team management with required deliverables.
• Ability to recruit and lead high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage a multidisciplinary technical team in neutrionics and fluid dynamics.
• Oversee R&D activities and collaborate with external partners.
• Ensure safety processes and continuous improvement.

Skills

Effective communication

Leadership and motivation skills

Hazard identification

Computational analysis theory

Education

Relevant engineering degree

Tools

OpenFOAM

COMSOL

MCNP6

GEANT4

Job description

Working arrangements

Please note this role does offer hybrid working, our model sets out a minimum 60% onsite / 40% home working split

Part time working or job share options will be reviewed on an individual basis.

Overview of the role

Working alongside the Head of Plant Prediction & Simulation, this is an opportunity for a talented and natural leader to manage a world‑class team of engineers focusing upon neutronics & fluid dynamics in order to support the development of key technologies needed for a fusion power plant. Specifically, the successful candidate will lead the development of technical capability and manage the group responsible for neutronics and fluid dynamics.

In this role, you will:

• Line-manage a multidisciplinary technical team under the neutronics and fluid dynamics group
• Support subject matter experts in Radiation Measurement and Dosimetry
• Drive the delivery of R&D activities and work with external collaborations with academia and industrial partners for developing methods, workflows, demonstrations, and analysis tools
• Ensure a safe system of work within the team with relevant hazards identified, risks assessed and mitigated with adequate departmental processes in place and ensuring these are followed, including driving continuous improvement through lessons learned and quality management.
• Operate technology development roadmaps and, work schedules – ensuring risks, costs and resources have adequate governance and technical oversight
• Work within the Plant Prediction and Simulation department, play a key role in the development of 3D models of prototype fusion energy devices and their systems
• Act as the senior authority for the technical and computational functions ensuring deliverables to programmes are On Time, On Quality, and On Cost – meeting project plans and business milestones
• Ensure all team members are suitably recruited, motivated, resourced and inspired to deliver against SMART objectives
• Identify, develop, and protect Intellectual Property with a view to commercialisation of relevant technology

Qualifications

• Experience performing, checking, and validating neutronics models, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Magneto-Hydrodynamics (MHD) models.
• Experience with computational methods used in radiation transport analyses – especially Monte Carlo and Deterministic methods, ideally MCNP6, GEANT4 and Attila – and the pre- and post- processing of results with structured and unstructured meshes.
• Experience with computational methods used in fluid dynamics – especially in OpenFOAM and COMSOL with some understanding of MHD
• Ability to line manage through effective communication and buy-in to a clear vision, setting SMART objectives, good motivational skills and sound resource planning.
• Substantive technical experience in the theory and modelling of computational analysis
• Proven experience of managing a team’s required deliverables and milestones against project objectives
• Ability to recruit, build, and lead a high-performing technical teams
• Experience in hazard identification, risk assessments, and ensuring safe systems of work – driving safety standards in teams
• A proven ability to communicate technical and non-technical information effectively and persuasively at all levels: to senior management, stakeholders, collaborators, colleagues and staff
• A basic awareness of the principles of Intellectual Property law and how businesses may protect their Intellectual Property would be desirable.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays and 3 festive days to be used between Christmas and the New Year)
• Company pension scheme
• Eligible for company share option scheme
• Company bonus scheme, discretionary, dependant on performance
• A range of financial benefits including death in service and critical illness cover
• Cycle to work scheme

Hazard‑specific / Safety‑critical duties

• Working at height (ladders, scissor lifts, cherry pickers & scaffolding)
• Night working (11pm-6am)
• Work in hot or cold environments
• Driving on Company business
• Working with ionising radiation
• Work with cryogenic fluids including liquid nitrogen
• Working with or in the vicinity of equipment that produces high magnetic fields
• Working with materials that are managed under the control of substances hazardous to health regulations (COSHH)
• Travel outside of Europe or North America on company business

About Us

What if there was a limitless, safe, clean, low‑cost energy source, providing much needed global energy security? What if that energy source could also help reduce climate change? We believe that’s fusion energy. Tokamak Energy is a leading global commercial fusion energy company based near Oxford, UK. We have an unrivalled track record designing and operating spherical tokamaks; the optimal route to commercial fusion energy.

In addition to fusion energy, Tokamak Energy is recognised as the leader in High Temperature Superconductor (HTS) magnet, design, numerical modelling, and prototyping. Our dedicated HTS magnet team, in collaboration with key manufacturing partners, is focussed on becoming the leading supplier of HTS magnets to multiple markets.

The company, founded in 2009 as a spin‑off from the UK’s Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, currently employs a growing team of over 250 people with experts from the UK and around the world. It combines world leading scientific, engineering, industrial and commercial capabilities. The company has 70 families of patent applications and has raised $250 million, comprising $200m from private investors and $50m from the UK and US governments. Our US subsidiary, Tokamak Energy Inc, was established in 2019.

Come and be a part of a dynamic and innovative team who are striving to provide a solution to one of humanity’s greatest challenges: clean and sustainable energy for all.

Important information

Important information

Please note that any personal data submitted to Tokamak Energy will be processed in accordance with the GDPR and related UK data protection legislation.

If you do not meet all the listed criteria for this position, we would still welcome your application.

Entry into employment with Tokamak Energy and progression within employment will be determined only by personal merit and the application of criteria which are related to the duties of each post and the relevant salary structure. In all cases, ability to perform the job will be the primary consideration.

No applicant or member of staff shall be discriminated against because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.